HOS 9:16 Interlinear View

1. Hebrew word
2. Hebrew lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. Gloss
8. CAPS codes
9. OET tags
10. OET word #
1. הֻכָּה
2. 523051
3. He has been struck
4. -
5. 5221
6. V-VHp3ms
7. he_has_been_struck
8. S
9. Y-760; TProphecies_of_Hosea
10. 365557
1. אֶפְרַיִם
2. 523052
3. ʼEfrayim
4. Efrayim
5. 669
6. S-Np
7. Ephraim
8. -
9. Person=Ephraim; Y-760; TProphecies_of_Hosea
10. 365558
1. שָׁרְשָׁ,ם
2. 523053,523054
3. root of their
4. their
5. 8328
6. S-Ncmsc,Sp3mp
7. root_of,their
8. -
9. Y-760; TProphecies_of_Hosea
10. 365559
1. יָבֵשׁ
2. 523055
3. it has dried up
4. -
5. 3001
6. V-Vqp3ms
7. it_has_dried_up
8. -
9. Y-760; TProphecies_of_Hosea
10. 365560
1. פְּרִי
2. 523056
3. fruit
4. fruit
5. 6529
6. O-Ncmsa
7. fruit
8. -
9. Y-760; TProphecies_of_Hosea
10. 365561
1. בלי
2. 523057
3. not
4. can't
5. 1097
6. S-Tn
7. not
8. -
9. Y-760; TProphecies_of_Hosea
10. 365562
2. 523058
3. -
4. -
6. -
8. -
9. -
10. 365563
2. 523059
3. -
4. -
6. -x-maqqef
8. -
9. -
10. 365564
1. יַעֲשׂוּ,ן
2. 523060,523061
3. they will produce
4. -
6. V-Vqi3mp,Sn
7. they,will_produce
8. -
9. Y-760; TProphecies_of_Hosea
10. 365565
1. גַּם
2. 523062
3. also
4. -
5. 1571
6. S-Ta
7. also
8. -
9. Y-760; TProphecies_of_Hosea
10. 365566
1. כִּי
2. 523063
3. if/because
4. -
6. S-C
7. if/because
8. -
9. Y-760; TProphecies_of_Hosea
10. 365567
1. יֵלֵדוּ,ן
2. 523064,523065
3. they(m) will give birth
4. give birth
5. 3205
6. V-Vqi3mp,Sn
7. they_[masc],will_give_birth
8. -
9. Y-760; TProphecies_of_Hosea
10. 365568
1. וְ,הֵמַתִּי
2. 523066,523067
3. and I will put to death
4. kill
5. 4191
6. SV-C,Vhq1cs
7. and,I_will_put_to_death
8. -
9. Y-760; TProphecies_of_Hosea
10. 365569
1. מַחֲמַדֵּי
2. 523068
3. the desirable things of
4. -
5. 4261
6. O-Ncmpc
7. the_desirable_things_of
8. -
9. Y-760; TProphecies_of_Hosea
10. 365570
1. בִטְנָ,ם
2. 523069,523070
3. their(m) womb of their
4. -
5. 990
6. O-Ncfsc,Sp3mp
7. their_[masc]_womb_of,their
8. -
9. Y-760; TProphecies_of_Hosea
10. 365571
2. 523071
3. -
4. -
6. -x-sof-pasuq
8. -
9. -
10. 365572
2. 523072
3. -
4. -
6. -x-samekh
8. S
9. -
10. 365573

9:16 OSHB variant note: בלי: (x-qere) ’בַֽל’: lemma_1077 morph_HTn id_28mPM בַֽל

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 9:10–17: The sins of the Israelites and the response of the LORD

This section describes the joyful beginning of the LORD’s relationship with the people of Israel and the shocking way that they responded by betraying him. Because of their sin and betrayal, it is necessary for the LORD to judge them.

Here are some other examples of section headings:

Israel’s Sin and Its Consequences (GNT)

Sin’s Terrible Results (CEV)

Paragraph 9:15–16 and 9:17

In the BSB and some other versions, 9:15–17 are one paragraph. TN will divide these verses into two paragraphs. In the first paragraph, the LORD is the speaker. He describes his punishment against Israel. In the second paragraph, Hosea is the speaker. He prophesies about Israel’s future situation.

9:16a

Ephraim is struck down;

Ephraim is like a dying plant
The people of Israel are like diseased/injured plants.

9:16b

their root is withered;

that has withered all the way down to its root.
Even their roots have dried up.

9:16c

they cannot bear fruit.

It does not produce any fruit.
They cannot bear fruit.

9:16a–c

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^16a Ephraim is stuck down;

^16b their root is withered;

^16c they cannot bear fruit.

These lines describe the northern kingdom of Israel in its final years as a nation. The description is a metaphor that compares Israel to an injured or diseased plant that cannot reproduce.Wood (page 206), Dearman (page 257), Stuart (page 154), McComiskey (page 156), and Macintosh (page 378).

Ephraim is struck down: In the context of this plant metaphor, struck down probably means that a disease or a pest, such as a wood rot or a worm, has injured it.Macintosh (page 278) and McComiskey (page 156). The verb tense indicates certainty that this action will soon happen.The verbs “struck” and “withered” are prophetic perfects. Keil (page 127) says that “the perfects are a prophetic expression, indicating the certain execution of the threat.”

their root is withered: The root of the plant is dried up. The injury to the plant is so severe that the root has died or begun to die.

they cannot bear fruit: In this blighted and withered condition, the plant is unable to bear fruit.TOTC (page 168), Wood (page 207), and Davies (page 231). This line of the metaphor indicates that the people of Israel will not be able to have children.

General Comment on 9:16a–c

In this metaphor, the Hebrew text uses a combination of singular and plural forms to refer to the plant and its root.The referent of the singular forms is to the nation of Israel as a whole. The referent of the plural forms is to the individual people of Israel. This use of both singular and plural forms to refer to a plant may be unnatural in some languages.

If that is true in your language, here are some other ways to translate this verse part:

Israel is beaten down; its root is dying and it has no fruit (NCV)

The people of Ephraim are like sick plants. Their roots are dried up. They have no fruit. (GW)

9:16d

Even if they bear children, I will slay the darlings of their wombs.

Even if they could have children, I would kill those children whom they love so much.”
But if they do somehow give birth, I will take their precious/dear children from their mothers and fathers.”

Even if they bear children, I will slay the darlings of their wombs: This part of the verse adds to the previous statement in 9:16c that “they cannot bear fruit.” This clause is very similar to Hosea 9:12a that has “Even if they raise their children, I will bereave them of each one.” This clause in 9:16d is probably another instance of the same figure of speech that is used there.The figure of speech here is probably a “pseudosorities” as in 9:12a. It indicates how complete and serious the punishment from the LORD will be. See the note on 9:12a for more details.

they…their: In the Hebrew phrases “they bear children” and “the darlings of their wombs,” the pronouns they and their are masculine. The masculine form indicates that these phrases refer to both the men and women of Israel, not just the mothers.Andersen and Freedman (page 546).

slay: This word means “to cause to die, kill.”TWOT (#1169).

the darlings of their wombs: The Hebrew phrase here is more literally “the precious things of their womb.” It refers to newly born babies that are precious to the people of Israel.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

beloved children (RSV)

dear children (GW)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

מַחֲמַדֵּ֥י בִטְנָֽ⁠ם

cherished_of their_[masc]_womb_of,their

Yahweh is using this possessive form to mean the precious ones who came from their womb, that is, their beloved children. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers. Alternate translation: [the precious children born from their womb]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

שָׁרְשָׁ֥⁠ם יָבֵ֖שׁ פְּרִ֣י בַֽל יַעֲשׂ֑וּ⁠ן

root_of,their dried_up fruit(sg) (Some words not found in UHB: stricken ʼEfrayim root_of,their dried_up fruit(sg) no they,will_produce also/yet that/for/because/then/when they_[masc],will_give_birth and,I_will_put_to_death cherished_of their_[masc]_womb_of,their )

Yahweh is speaking of the people of Ephraim as if they were a plant whose root has dried up and that will not produce fruit. He means they will have no children or prosperity. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [they will no longer have children or prosperity]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

הֻכָּ֣ה אֶפְרַ֔יִם

stricken ʼEfrayim

The expression Ephraim is struck is a passive verbal form. If it would be unnatural to use that form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you need to say who does the action, the context indicates that it is God. Alternate translation: [I will strike Ephraim]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

מַחֲמַדֵּ֥י בִטְנָֽ⁠ם

cherished_of their_[masc]_womb_of,their

Here, womb represents the act of giving birth to children. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [the precious children to whom they give birth]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

1. OET-LV words
2. OET-RV words
3. Strongs
4. Hebrew word
5. Hebrew lemma
6. Role/Morphology
7. Gloss
8. CAPS codes
9. OET tags
10. OET word #
1. ʼEfrayim
2. Efrayim
3. 405
5. 523052
6. S-Np
8. -
9. Person=Ephraim; Y-760; TProphecies_of_Hosea
10. 365558
1. He has been struck
2. -
3. 5176
5. 523051
6. V-VHp3ms
8. S
9. Y-760; TProphecies_of_Hosea
10. 365557
1. root of their
2. their
3. 7925,1978
5. 523053,523054
6. S-Ncmsc,Sp3mp
8. -
9. Y-760; TProphecies_of_Hosea
10. 365559
1. it has dried up
2. -
3. 3188
5. 523055
6. V-Vqp3ms
8. -
9. Y-760; TProphecies_of_Hosea
10. 365560
1. fruit
2. fruit
3. 6173
5. 523056
6. O-Ncmsa
8. -
9. Y-760; TProphecies_of_Hosea
10. 365561
1. not
2. can't
3. 1096
4. K
5. 523057
6. S-Tn
8. -
9. Y-760; TProphecies_of_Hosea
10. 365562
1. they will produce
2. -
3. 6035,4876
5. 523060,523061
6. V-Vqi3mp,Sn
8. -
9. Y-760; TProphecies_of_Hosea
10. 365565
1. also
2. -
3. 1471
5. 523062
6. S-Ta
8. -
9. Y-760; TProphecies_of_Hosea
10. 365566
1. if/because
2. -
3. 3482
5. 523063
6. S-C
8. -
9. Y-760; TProphecies_of_Hosea
10. 365567
1. they(m) will give birth
2. give birth
3. 3233,4876
5. 523064,523065
6. V-Vqi3mp,Sn
8. -
9. Y-760; TProphecies_of_Hosea
10. 365568
1. and I will put to death
2. kill
3. 1987,4867
5. 523066,523067
6. SV-C,Vhq1cs
8. -
9. Y-760; TProphecies_of_Hosea
10. 365569
1. the desirable things of
2. -
3. 4383
5. 523068
6. O-Ncmpc
8. -
9. Y-760; TProphecies_of_Hosea
10. 365570
1. their(m) womb of their
2. -
3. 1055,1978
5. 523069,523070
6. O-Ncfsc,Sp3mp
8. -
9. Y-760; TProphecies_of_Hosea
10. 365571